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Feds may cut funding for bulletproof vest program

Some Senate Republicans want to end the program. They say state and local officials should foot the bill for the vests, not the federal government.

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Updated: 10:54 PM MDT May 18, 2014

Feds may cut funding for bulletproof vest program

Some Senate Republicans want to end the program. They say state and local officials should foot the bill for the vests, not the federal government.

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Updated: 10:54 PM MDT May 18, 2014

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WEBVTT POLITICAL BATTLE COULD PUT POLICE OFFICERS IN DANGER. CONGRESS MAY DECIDE TO END A PROGRAM THAT HELPS DEPARTMENTS PAY FOR BULLETPROOF VESTS. KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER MEGAN CRUZ TELLS US WHAT THIS COULD MEAN FOR LOCAL OFFICERS. DOUG AND SHELLY - I RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH A GROUP OF ALBUQUERQUE POLICE OFFICERS WHO WERE SHOT IN THE LINE OF DUTY. ONE OF THEM TOLD ME HE WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD... IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR HIS BULLETPROOF VEST. The vest protected one of the shots that hit me right in the center. FORGET HIS LUCKY STARS... ALBUQUERQUE POLICE OFFICER JOHN GARCIA IS ALIVE TODAY ... THANKS TO HIS BULLETPROOF VEST. FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, A FEDERAL PROGRAM HAS HELPED POLICE PAY FOR THOUSANDS OF THE VESTS IN OUR STATE. BUT A NEW POLITICAL FIGHT IN WASHINGTON MAY LEAVE OFFICERS DEFENSELESS IN A GUN FIGHT. SOME SENATE REPUBLICANS WANT TO END THE PROGRAM, SAYING IT'S NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY. THEY SAY STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS SHOULD FOOT THE BILL FOR THE VESTS. SINCE 2010, THE PROGRAM AWARDED ALBUQUERQUE POLICE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR 865 VESTS. NEW MEXICO STATE POLICE GOT ENOUGH FOR EVEN MORE. DEPARTMENTS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE HAVE RECEIVED THESE AWARDS, FROM RATON TO SILVER CITY AND JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN. NEW MEXICO'S MEN AND WOMEN IN BLUE PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY, AND CAN USE ALL THE PROTECTION THEY CAN GET. OFFICER GARCIA'S STORY-- SOT He rolled around his back, stuck his elbows into his knees, and then in brace position, started shooting. At that point, I was as close as me to you, about 3 to 5 feet away. IS A VIVID REMINDER OF JUST HOW IMPORTANT A SINGLE VEST CAN BE. SINCE THE PROGRAM WAS CREATED IN 1999, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SPENT ABOUT 375-MILLION-DOLLARS. THAT'S PAID FOR MORE THAN A MILLION VESTS, IN 13-THOUSAND DEPARTMENTS NATIONWIDE. UNTIL LAWMAKERS DECIDE WHAT TO DO, POLICE DEPARTMENTS CAN STILL APPLY FOR FUNDING THROUGH TUESDAY. AN ALBUQUERQUE

Feds may cut funding for bulletproof vest program

Some Senate Republicans want to end the program. They say state and local officials should foot the bill for the vests, not the federal government.